Southesk, The Earl of
Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Author.
Title from 1855 of Scottish poet, antiquary and author James Carnegie (1827-1905). His poetry tends to the occult, though his privately-published book-length narrative poem, Lurida Lumina (1876 chap) anonymous, describes the Near Future Invasion of England by France within a Battle of Dorking frame. His prose of sf interest includes two sf novels. In Herminius: A Romance (1862) anonymous, which is set during the Roman occupancy of Britain, a Lost Race of ferocious Neanderthal-like creatures known as the Grauni is discovered in north Wales, but their domain sinks calamitously into the ocean. The protagonist of Suomiria: A Fantasy (1899) discovers a savage race of apelike troglodytes (see Apes as Human) in a forest, along with a strange sphinx-like female named Suomiria who guides him Underground into her domain, and with whom he falls in love. She soon gives up her Immortality to wed him, but after many tribulations becomes a sphinx again. In tone (though not in its political agenda) this novel oddly prefigures Herbert Read's The Green Child (1935). [JC]
Sir James Carnegie, 6th Earl of Southesk
born Edinburgh, Scotland: 16 November 1827
died Kinnaird Castle, Brechin, Scotland: 21 February 1905
works (selected)
- Herminius: A Romance (Edinburgh, Scotland: for Edmondston and Douglas, 1862) anonymous [hb/]
- Lurida Lumina (Edinburgh, Scotland: for Edmondston and Douglas, 1876) anonymous [poem: chap: privately published: hb/nonpictorial]
- Suomiria: A Fantasy (Edinburgh, Scotland: for David Douglas, 1899) [privately published: hb/]
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